Colerne Airfield

Mr. Gray:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many redundant hangars at Colerne Airfield have been sold; and how much they raised; [43517]

(2) what discussions he has had with commercial interests about selling Colerne Airfield and Azinghur Barracks. [43519]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 March 2002]: The Ministry of Defence has had no discussions with commercial interests about selling Colerne Airfield and Azinghur Barracks.

The two outlying sites at Colerne contained a total of five redundant hangars. Last year, however, we sold two surplus and outlying sites of hangars at Colerne. The sale achieved £675,000. Currently there are no further surplus hangars on the site.

18 Mar 2002 : Column 71W

Mr. Gray:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters at Colerne have been sold in the last five years. [43518]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 15 March 2002]: The only such disposals recorded in the last five years are twelve surplus family houses at Colerne handed back to Annington Homes Ltd.

Stolen Equipment

Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 498W, on stolen equipment, what criminal proceedings have been undertaken for cases of theft against his Department, stating in each case (a) whether the proceedings (i) led to a criminal conviction and (ii) were unsuccessful, (b) the cost incurred by his Department in pursuing a conviction and (c) the value of items recovered; and if he will make a statement. [41501]

Mr. Ingram:
Reported cases of theft are held centrally on a summary basis and relate to reported suspicions only. It cannot be assumed therefore that criminal proceedings for theft have or will apply in every case. Every year the Ministry of Defence investigates a significant number of suspected thefts, many of a minor nature. Inevitably, in many instances a suspected perpetrator is not identified or there is insufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution. Where a suspected perpetrator is identified prosecution or internal disciplinary action follows as appropriate. The provision of comprehensive details, including costs incurred and recoveries made, relating to the outcome of such proceedings could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Warships

Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether each Royal Navy frigate and destroyer is operational or in refit; and what the period of the current or next refit is in respect of each ship. [44213]

Mr. Ingram:
26 of the total 32 RN frigates and destroyers are either operational or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training. The remaining six are undergoing a refit or docking period as follows:

Period (weeks)

Vessel refits

Manchester

89

Liverpool

82

Gloucester

79

Iron Duke

61

Monmouth

66

Docking periods

Marlborough

27

I am withholding details of the next refits for the fleet's frigates and destroyers in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations. However, in general terms, such refits occur between seven to nine years into a commission with a planned duration, including preparations and trials periods, of between 57 and 79 weeks.

18 Mar 2002 : Column 72W

Kosovo

Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the local police investigation into the circumstances of the death of Fahir Bici and Avni Dudi on 4 July 1999; what the outcome of the RMP investigation was; how many rounds were discharged by British forces; what communication he has had with the families of the deceased; what compensation has been paid; what the result was of disciplinary hearings; and what notices of orders were issued to the Parachute Regiment relating to circumstances of the incident. [41095]

Mr. Ingram:
I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

World War Two Civilian Prisoners (Far East)

Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian prisoners of the Japanese in the far east who have received ex-gratia payments under his scheme were (a) diplomatic personnel and (b) dependants of diplomatic personnel. [41234]

Dr. Moonie:
It is not possible to say how many of those who have received an ex-gratia payment under the scheme I announced on 7 November 2000, Official Report, columns 15971, were diplomatic personnel or their dependants as this information is not specifically held.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Correspondence

Mr. Alan Duncan:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will respond substantively to the letters of 13 July 2001, 24 July 2001 and 29 January 2002 referring to case Ref No 117550, from the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan). [44082]

Mr. Wills:
The Lord Chancellor has now replied. I am sorry the reply to the hon. Member's letter took some time but it raised a complex point of law on which Counsel's Opinion was sought.

Community Legal Services Partnerships

(North-West)

Mr. Watts:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action her Department is taking to promote community legal services partnerships in the north-west. [40939]

Ms Rosie Winterton:
Over the last two years, Ministers have supported community legal service partnerships (CLSP) by attending numerous local events. Most recently I was in Rochdale to speak at the launch of the Rochdale CLSP strategic plan. In February, Baroness Scotland launched the Halton CLSP, bringing the total coverage of partnerships in the north-west to 100 per cent. While in the region, Baroness Scotland also opened a new housing service, being provided through Chester offices of Shelter, and awarded the quality mark to the Cheshire constabulary.

18 Mar 2002 : Column 73W

To promote the concept of partnerships generally, national partners are kept up to date on national developments and regional development activities. All community legal service partnerships (CLSPs) undertake promotional activities as part of their work.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she intends to report on the use of third party orders in respect of domestic violence under section 60 of the Family Law Act 1986. [43074]

Ms Rosie Winterton:
Last November I announced that we would be commissioning a short research project to assess the implications and benefits of introducing third party orders, as provided under section 60 of the Family Law Act 1996.

The research project was awarded to Dr. Mandy Burton of the university of Leicester on 12 March 2002 and will run from 15 March to 22 September 2002. The research will consider the effectiveness of all civil remedies currently available to survivors of domestic violence. Where any gaps are identified, consideration will be given as to whether or not the implementation of section 60 would fill them.

The Lord Chancellor and I will consider the findings of the research and announce our response at the earliest opportunity.

Resident Magistrates

Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many resident magistrates reside within five miles of the court in which they sit. [38293]

18 Mar 2002 : Column 74W

Ms Rosie Winterton:
A resident magistrate may reside outside the district to which he or she is assigned, as the term means that the magistrate is attached to a petty sessions district. Of the 13 resident magistrates who are assigned to districts, one resides within five miles of the courthouse in the district and another, who is assigned to two adjoining districts, resides within five miles of the courthouse in one of the districts. The other 11 resident magistrates reside more than five miles from the courthouse in the district to which they are assigned. The six remaining resident magistrates operate on a peripatetic basis and are not assigned to a specific district or courthouse.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Flexible Working

Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what proportion of the staff of his Department are (a) job sharing, (b) term working and (c) engaged in another form of flexible working. [42419]

Mr. Leslie:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 780W. Information on numbers of staff who are term-time workers or engaged in another form of flexible working are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Women's On-line Business Centre

Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the development of the new website Women's On-Line Business Centre. [43109]

Nigel Griffiths:
I have been asked to reply.

SBS are working with their supplier to deliver the Women's On-Line Business Centre during summer 2002.